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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: DON RHEEM
(202) 628-3522
THE GLOBAL CLIMATE COALITION RECOGNIZES U.S. LEADERSHIP FOR
PRESENTING NATIONAL PLAN IN GENEVA

WASHINGTON, DC, December 8, 1992....The Global Climate Coalition (GCC)
recognizes the continuing leadership and strong commitment of the United States in the
climate change arena as demonstrated in the release yesterday of the United States
government's National Action Plan (NAP) to the Intergovernmental Negotiating
Committee (INC) in Geneva.
The United States was the first industrialized nation to sign and ratify the Framework
Convention on Climate Change, and now is the first to submit its national plan to the
INC. The United States is also the world leader in scientific research on global climate
change.
The Global Climate Coalition agrees with the major theme in the National Action Plan
that significant progress is already under way in the United States in reducing
greenhouse gas emissions. "American companies spend close to $100 billion yearly
complying with environmental regulations," said GCC Executive Director John Shlaes,
"in addition to other voluntary actions such as those taken through the Environmental
Protection Agency's 'Green Lights' program." He also pointed out that "industry's
continuing commitment to technical innovation yields additional progress across a range
of industrial sectors."
The Global Climate Coalition strongly supports the linkage in the National Action Plan
of appropriate policy directives with validated science. "There is a clear danger in the
debate on global climate change for policy makers to rush into action before the
scientific community agrees that proposed actions will actually impact any climate
trend," Shlaes said. "This is certainly true in the debate on climate change, where

 GLOBAL CLIMATE COALITION
December 8, 1992
Page 2

significant disagreements exist concerning everything from the validity of computer
models that are used to predict a dangerous warming trend, to the role of man-made
greenhouse gases in altering the dynamics of the natural greenhouse effect."
All forecasts show that the vast majority of future increases in greenhouse gas
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value of our nation's capabilities to supply more efficient technologies and services to
developing countries. The Global Climate Coalition fully supports efforts that enhance
the technology cooperation process.
The Global Climate Coalition supports the recognition in the National Action Plan that
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with climate changeissues. Mr.
Shlaes said that "Within any growing economy there are constant improvements in
industrial processes and energy efficiencies that may result in a de facto reduction of
greenhouse gas emissions. It is here, in the natural process of industrial
modernization, that some of the most significant progress will be made."
Final y. the Global Climate Coalition concurs with the assessment that measures to
reduce greenhouse gases. if necessary. must be made by all nations. "Reducing
greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. alone will not be significant over the long term,"
Shlaes said, "If American consumers are to bear the costs of expensive solutions, they
will expect that those solutions will actually carry some benefit, and not simply place
us at a competitive disadvantage with our international trading partners."
The Framework Convention on Climate Change was drafted by the INC during two
years of negotiations, and it was opened for signature in Rio de Janeiro during the
United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in June 1992. A
principle recommendation (and a requirement for OECD members) in the Framework
Convention is for signatories to submit national plans outlining actions that are
consistent with the Convention.
The Global Climate Coalition is an organization of business trade associations and
private companies established in 1989 to coordinate business participation in the
scientific and policy debate on global climate change. Several GCC members, along
with GCC Executive Director John Shlaes, are actively participating in the
deliberations of the INC concerning the Framework Convention on Climate Change in
Geneva this week.

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